Expressing Support for the President's Actions to Safeguard National Security and Eliminate Threats from Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 295
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-07: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2025-05-22T17:52:54Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 295) expresses the House of Representatives' support for President Trump's executive actions aimed at protecting U.S. national security by designating certain foreign organizations as terrorists and facilitating their removal from the United States. It specifically backs efforts to combat groups like Tren de Aragua (TdA) and MS-13 through designations, deportations, and international cooperation.
Key Provisions
- Support for Executive Order 14157: Affirms the January 20, 2025, order designating cartels and organizations like TdA as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs). FTOs are groups officially labeled by the U.S. government as involved in terrorism, making it illegal to support them; SDGTs are individuals or entities blocked from U.S. financial systems due to terrorism links.
- Endorsement of Alien Enemies Act Invocation: Backs the President's March 15, 2025, use of the Alien Enemies Act (a 1798 law allowing the President to detain or deport non-citizens from enemy nations or groups during wartime or invasions) to address TdA's infiltration.
- Affirmation of Presidential Authority: Recognizes the President's role as Commander in Chief to detain, deport, or restrict non-citizens affiliated with FTOs.
- Approval of Deportations and International Partnership: Supports the March 15-16, 2025, flights deporting TdA and MS-13 members to El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukele agreed to detain them in the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a high-security prison.
- Call for Elimination of Threats: Endorses fully removing these organizations from U.S. territory to ensure safety and security.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This resolution introduces no changes to existing laws. As a non-binding House resolution, it serves only to express congressional opinion and support for the President's actions under pre-existing authorities like the Alien Enemies Act and FTO designation processes, without amending statutes.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Strengthens executive branch actions by House endorsement, potentially easing implementation for agencies like the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State in enforcing deportations and sanctions. It may encourage faster coordination on counter-terrorism operations.
- On Citizens: Could enhance public safety by targeting gang-related threats to law enforcement and communities, though it focuses on non-citizens and may indirectly affect immigration enforcement perceptions.
- On International Relations: Bolsters U.S.-El Salvador ties through praised cooperation on detentions, potentially setting a model for partnerships with other nations on transnational crime. It may strain relations with countries harboring these groups if further designations follow.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Government Officials: The President (as Commander in Chief), Secretary of State, DHS, and law enforcement agencies handling terrorism and immigration.
- U.S. Citizens and Residents: Particularly those in areas affected by gang violence, benefiting from reduced threats but potentially impacted by broader immigration policies.
- Foreign Terrorist Organizations: Groups like TdA and MS-13, facing heightened designations, asset freezes, and deportations.
- El Salvador and Its Government: President Bukele and Salvadoran authorities, who receive deportees and manage detentions, gaining U.S. support for their anti-gang efforts.
- Non-Citizen Immigrants: Members or affiliates of designated groups, subject to detention and removal under the Alien Enemies Act.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces the President's broad executive powers under the Alien Enemies Act, a rarely invoked law from the 18th century that allows actions against "alien enemies" without standard due process for non-citizens during perceived invasions. This could invite legal challenges over its application to non-state actors like gangs, potentially testing court interpretations of "invasion" in modern contexts.
- Constitutional: Aligns with the President's Article II powers as Commander in Chief for national security but highlights tensions with Congress's immigration oversight role, as the resolution seeks to affirm executive authority without binding force.
- Political: Provides bipartisan or Republican-led backing (introduced by Rep. Crank and cosponsors) for a tough-on-crime immigration stance, signaling House support amid debates on border security. It may influence future legislation or elections by framing gang infiltration as a terrorism issue, though its non-binding nature limits direct policy effects.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (5)
Rep. Tiffany, Thomas P. [R-WI-7], Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3], Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-07: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-04-07: Submitted in House
- 2025-04-07: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Expressing Support for the President’s Actions to Safeguard National Security and Eliminate Threats from Foreign Terrorist Organizations. — issued 2025-04-07 — PDF (2 pages)